Over the winter most of us tend to stay housebound but come spring, it’s time to get outside and be active. Last weekend was the spring equinox and the weather seemed to improve overnight. This means that it’s time for some exercise, time to stretch our legs and enjoy the fabulous spring weather. People talk about all the great shopping malls, traditional buildings, sightseeing points and so on; for me spring is all about the outdoors. Having children, the outdoors means parks, parks and more parks. As I have mentioned many times, I love Shiga, and Shiga has a veritable plethora of great parks for kids. In Otsu, where I live, there are several large parks, including Chausuyama Park (built on top of a keyhole tomb 古墳) and Ojiyama Park (right next to Otsu City Hall). Both are huge, both have a variety of different activity areas, both have free parking. They both also have fun and safe playground areas for kids of all ages. Playground equipment in Japan is especially wonderful- imaginative and fun and most importantly well built with children’s safety in mind. Long story short, I can relax while my children have fun. The picture on the left shows a dinosaur themed play area that we recently discovered in a small lakeside park in Moriyama, just north of Otsu. This unique park offered this pictured play area which had pictures of dinosaurs, fake Jurassic period trees and rocks, dinosaur blocks and dinosaur shaped slides and steps. There were also benches for snack time and (of course) drink machines stocked with fruit juices, veggie juices, milks, waters and teas. Toilets are also never far away! A perfect place for a family to spend a sunny spring day.
Edward, Smith’s School of English Otsu
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